U.S. patent application number 10/637439 was filed with the patent office on 2004-02-19 for side gas bag and side gas bag module for a vehicle occupant protection device.
This patent application is currently assigned to TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG. Invention is credited to Scherr, Jurgen, Steinbruck, Olaf, Strukelj, Andrej.
Application Number | 20040032116 10/637439 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7974145 |
Filed Date | 2004-02-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040032116 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Steinbruck, Olaf ; et
al. |
February 19, 2004 |
Side gas bag and side gas bag module for a vehicle occupant
protection device
Abstract
A side gas bag for a vehicle occupant restraint system includes
an inflatable volume which is delimited by an exterior gas bag
covering (16). There is provided an inflatable pouch (18) in the
inflation region of the gas bag (14) inside the gas bag covering
(16). There is further proposed a side gas bag module including
such side gas bag.
Inventors: |
Steinbruck, Olaf;
(Kretzschau, DE) ; Strukelj, Andrej; (Schwabisch
Gmund, DE) ; Scherr, Jurgen; (Waldstetten,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TAROLLI, SUNDHEIM, COVELL, TUMMINO & SZABO L.L.P.
1111 LEADER BLDG.
526 SUPERIOR AVENUE
CLEVELAND
OH
44114-1400
US
|
Assignee: |
TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH
& Co. KG
|
Family ID: |
7974145 |
Appl. No.: |
10/637439 |
Filed: |
August 8, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
280/730.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 21/21 20130101;
B60R 21/276 20130101; B60R 2021/23386 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
280/730.2 |
International
Class: |
B60R 021/22 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 16, 2002 |
DE |
202 12 599.8 |
Claims
1. A side gas bag for a vehicle occupant restraint system, said
side gas bag having an inflatable volume which is delimited by an
exterior gas bag covering (16), characterized in that there is
provided an inflatable pouch (18) in an inflation region of said
gas bag (14) inside said gas bag covering (16).
2. The side gas bag according to claim 1, characterized in that
said pouch (18) has an elongated, tubular shape with a first end
(20) constructed as an inflation opening, and a second end (22)
constructed as an outflow opening.
3. The side gas bag according to claim 1, characterized in that
said pouch (18) is provided with a tear seam (24), which tears open
at a predetermined internal pressure of said pouch (18) and thereby
frees an outflow opening.
4. The side gas bag according to claim 3 characterized in that said
tear seam (24) has at least one exhaust opening.
5. A side gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system,
characterized in that said module (10) has at least one side gas
bag (14) including an inflatable volume which is delimited by an
exterior gas bag covering (16) and including an inflatable pouch
(18) in an inflation region of said gas bag (14) inside said gas
bag covering (16).
6. The side gas bag module according to claim 5, characterized in
that said pouch (18) of said side gas bag (14) is directly
connected with an inflation connection (12) of said module (10).
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The invention relates to a side gas bag for a vehicle
occupant restraint system and to a side gas bag module for a
vehicle occupant protection device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The inflatable volume of known gas bags is usually delimited
by an exterior gas bag covering. In side gas bags, in particular in
side gas bags which are stowed folded in a gas bag module arranged
in the region of the roof edge of the vehicle, damage to its
inflation orifice can occur during the filling of the gas bag, when
the folded package is not pushed apart sufficiently quickly. The
damage is due to the initially very high temperatures of the gas
provided by a gas generator, and due to the high gas flow.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The invention provides a side gas bag which in particular in
the initial stage of unfolding ensures a rapid pushing apart of the
folded gas bag package.
[0004] According to the invention, a side gas bag for a vehicle
occupant restraint system comprises an inflatable volume which is
delimited by an exterior gas bag covering. There is provided an
inflatable pouch in the inflation region of the gas bag inside the
gas bag covering. The pouch serves as an initial unfolding aid for
the folded gas bag covering. Through the inflating of the pouch and
the expansion entailed thereby, the folded package of the gas bag
covering surrounding the pouch is pushed apart in an effective
manner in a very short period of time.
[0005] According to a preferred embodiment, the pouch has an
elongated, tubular shape with a first end constructed as an
inflation opening, and a second end constructed as an outflow
opening. The inflation opening can be directly connected with an
inflation connection, via which the gas provided by a gas generator
is conveyed. Therefore, the gas is firstly directed into the pouch,
before it flows through the outflow opening into the volume of the
gas bag covering and completely unfolds the gas bag.
[0006] A specific influence on the inflation behavior of the gas
bag is achieved in that the pouch is provided with a tear seam,
which tears open at a predetermined internal pressure of the pouch
and thereby frees an outflow opening. Thus, it can be ensured that
the hot gas is firstly collected in the pouch, before it arrives in
cooled form through the previously closed outflow opening into the
volume of the gas bag covering. Any possible tears in the inflation
region of the gas bag or a burning through are thereby
prevented.
[0007] The invention further provides a side gas bag module with at
least one side gas bag according to the invention. Preferably, the
pouch of the side gas bag is connected directly with an inflation
connection of the module.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0008] The single FIGURE shows a cross-sectional view of a side gas
bag module according to the invention, with two side gas bags
according to the invention in an unfolded state.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0009] In the FIGURE, a so-called center side gas bag module 10 is
illustrated, which is arranged in a vehicle on the roof edge in the
region of the B-column. The module 10 comprises two inflation
connections 12, via which two similar side gas bags 14 are filled
with gas. The two gas bags 14 are formed from an outer gas bag
covering 16 and an elongated, tubular pouch 18 provided inside the
covering 16 in the inflation region of the gas bag 14. The first
end 20 of the pouch 18 is turned over the associated inflation
connection 12 and is fastened thereon, whereas the second end 22 is
closed by a tear seam 24, which can have one or more exhaust
openings.
[0010] After the activation of the gas generator (not shown), the
hot gas provided by it is conveyed under high pressure via the
respective inflation connection 12 firstly to the tubular pouches
18 arranged inside the gas bag coverings 16. The pouches 18
therefore receive the first impulse of the gas emerging from the
inflation connection 12 and expand. Thereby, the folded packages of
the gas bag coverings 16 are rapidly pushed apart.
[0011] The tear seam 24 is dimensioned such that after expansion of
the pouch 28, it tears open at a predetermined pressure and thus
frees an opening of the pouch 18 opposite the inflation connection
12. After the tear seam 24 has opened, the gas, which in the
meantime has cooled down slightly, can flow into the volume
available through the (already partially unfolded) gas bag covering
16.
[0012] In another embodiment, only one gas bag is provided instead
of two separate gas bags 14. The two inflation connections 12 in
this case can serve to fill different chambers of the gas bag.
[0013] The material for the pouch 18 is to be selected according to
the respective requirements.
* * * * *